Posts Tagged ‘education’

The Door Opens Wider: Our 3rd ESL Class!

Posted: March 22, 2013 in Bright Spots on the Border, Christianity, Church Planting, Ministry, Prayer, San Diego
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ESL, English as a second or foreign language

One of our Growing ESL classes

Today we made a breakthrough. Something we’ve been working on for a while. We got approval to use a classroom at a local elementary school for our ESL class.

The Lord Brings the Increase

This all started as we were going in the streets and handing out flyers to promote our ESL classes. We were handing some of them out in front of Fay Elementary school when we met the school principal. She got so excited when she found out that we were offering free English classes that she suggested that we use one of the classrooms at her school.

Handing out flyers in front of Fay Elementary school

Handing out flyers in front of Fay Elementary school

Since that day we’ve planned and prayed for the opportunity to start a new class at the school. Now we have the teachers we need and a place to hold the class. We will start our third class on Wednesday, May 1st.

Answers to Our Prayers

I’m amazed that God has brought this to pass so quickly.

More students are starting to come, and we found someone to help us with childcare. Wow, Lord thanks for your mighty and continued work!

We could still use more help with childcare, and more teachers, but we are headed in the right direction. Thanks for standing with us in prayer. It’s exciting to be on this journey with a faithful team that prays for us, and an even more faithful God who hears our prayers!

I pray that we will be a blessing to Fay Elementary School, and that we will be a blessing to the community. Lord do be glorified as we seek and serve you!

In His Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeOnTheBorder.org

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Taking Jesus to the Streets with a Short-Term Team

Posted: March 4, 2013 in Christianity, Church Planting, Ministry, Missions, San Diego
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Short-term team of college students from Mobile, Alabama, ESL, English as a second or foreign language

Short-term team of college students from Mobile, Alabama

This week on Monday and Wednesday I have a short-term team of college students from Mobile, Alabama working with me to promote our ESL classes. I appreciate them coming out and helping us walk the streets to hand out flyers.

The Lord gave us a fruitful time this afternoon. We broke up into two groups of four. The group that went with me included, Shelonda, Sophia, Josh, and our evangelistic dog, Daisy :).

Believe it or not, having a cute little poodle does help. It seems to make people think you are safe, and the kids love the little dog. You might say she is our secret weapon! A small dog is the next best thing to having a small child as far as attracting attention.

An Enthusiastic Short-Term Team

I was very encouraged to see how the college students really went for it. They were very enthusiastic, and because of that we were able to hand out a number of flyers. It’s so much better being able to do this with a team of people. We get more done, and it’s more enjoyable.

Shelonda & Josh handing out flyers with Daisy the evangelistic dog!

Sholandra & Josh handing out flyers with Daisy the amazing evangelistic dog!

Every week as we’ve gone out the Lord keeps bringing new people to our class. One of the things that was heartening today was as we were talking to people and handing out the flyers, we met two woman who are already attending the class.

New Connections at the School

We talked to Antonia and Martha. Then I told Martha that we’d like to start an English class at the elementary school where her kids go. She said she was on the school council, or something to that effect. Martha thought that was a great idea, and she wanted my contact info, so she could help me promote the class at the school.

One of our huge needs right now is to get our structure and system for teaching in place, so we can handle all the students, and do a good job teaching them. The other big need we have is for childcare. It’s not easy teaching when the kids are running around in the classroom.

As the Lord provides the people to help lead our ESL program I believe our classroom sizes will keep growing. Our prayer is that we will serve the community, and that we will see these people come to know the savior.

In His Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeOnTheBorder.org

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Taking Jesus to the Streets: Even More Opportunities!

Posted: February 23, 2013 in Bright Spots on the Border, Christianity, Church Planting, Ministry, Missions, Prayer, San Diego
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ESL, English as a second or foreign language

Our Growing ESL class

It’s So thrilling to see the Lord touching people’s lives here on the border!

Taking Jesus to the Streets

I mentioned in past posts that we’ve been taking Jesus to the streets each week, inviting people to our English class. Vicente and I have been walking the streets in the neighborhood where we hold the ESL class to pass out flyers and to get the word out.

We’ve enjoyed meeting new people, and going back to some of the stores and community centers to see that they have our flyers. Many of the parents in the community don’t speak English. When they go to pick their kids up at the school they have an opportunity to take one of our English class ads.

God is Blessing – People are Coming

The Lord has rewarded our efforts. New people have started coming!

students, ESL, English as a second or foreign language

Students are eager to learn

It’s so wonderful to see the Lord work through his people. He’s provided more teachers which led us to believe that he wants to grow our ESL outreach. Now he’s starting to bring more students. Immigrants and refugees are coming and they are enjoying the class. It’s fun to watch the Lord at work.

When Vicente and I are on the streets, some of the people ask us if we offer GED classes, or citizenship classes. We realize there are more opportunities to minister in the community.

The Lord Hears Our Prayers

I realize one big reason why the Lord is blessing is that many are praying. Thanks so much for standing with us in prayer!

Pray with us for wisdom and God’s blessing as we seek to minister in the community. Some of the things we need for this outreach to grow are more people with the expertise and willingness to teach, and more classroom space to hold the classes.

“Lord, please do bring us workers and provide the classrooms and space for us to expand our reach, so that we might be an even greater blessing to the community. May the light of your gospel shine forth, that many might come to know and serve you.”

In His Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeOnTheBorder.org

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Taking Jesus to the Streets: God Opens Doors!

Posted: February 2, 2013 in Christianity, Church Planting, God's Leading, Ministry, Missions, Prayer, San Diego
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English: An Italian immigrant makes an America...

English: An Italian immigrant makes an American breakfast aided by instructional materials from the YMCA. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Wow! We had a great day yesterday. God opened a door for us, and I’m excited to see where it leads.

Vicente, Billy, Matt and I walked the streets in City Heights to promote our ESL class. Our hope is that the ESL outreach will grow. The Lord is blessing us with a number of volunteers. Friends that are willing to help teach. This gives us reason to believe God is in this.

While we were handing out flyers and inviting people to come to our ESL class we noticed a local elementary school was ready to end the day. The parents began gathering to pick up their children.

Many of the parents don’t speak English, so it was a prime time and place to be.

ESL, Dave and Vicente

Dave with Vicente

Vicente met one of the teachers and explained to her what we were doing. We asked the teacher, Jessica if we might be able to put up one of our flyers on a bulletin board inside the school. She introduced us to the principal. The principal got very excited when we told her we were offering English classes for free. She said, these parents need some help like this.

We were very encouraged that the principal was open to putting up the flyers, and helping us promote the class. I was really blown away by what she said next. She said that she thought we could use her school after 6:00 in the evening to hold our classes. This is a huge answer to prayer! One of the problems we’ve had is the place we are using is only available in the evenings on Fridays. Thank you Jesus for opening this door!

We have to fill out some paperwork to be able to use a classroom, but it looks positive. Thanks for praying with us. It’s so fun being on journey with Jesus.

“O Lord, please bring more students and work through us to effectively love those in the community of City Heights.”

In His Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeOnTheBorder.org

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God uses English to Touch Lives!

Posted: April 25, 2012 in Christianity, Church Planting, Ministry, Missions, Prayer, San Diego, Team Members, Tijuana
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Ray Call has done a great job with our ESL!

Ray Call has done a great job with our ESL!

We launched our ESL (English as a Second Language) class on April 13th. The first day of class there was a huge rainstorm, so that ended up not being the best day to start. We have a small, but good group.

There are some very encouraging things that give us hope that this outreach will be a success. Ray Call has done a wonderful job of coordinating our ESL. He arranged for all our teachers to be trained ahead of time. We have a great group of committed teachers. The Lord has really blessed as the foundation for this outreach is established. As we see God working it inspires us. I’m thrilled with the work Ray has done, and the team he has recruited minister to the community in this way!

Hannah and Ray practicing teaching with other participants

Hannah and Ray practicing teaching with other participants during ESL training

One area that I’d like to ask you to continue to pray with us about is that the Lord would bring more students. Often when a new ministry is launched it can take time for word to get out. I think that we will see our attendance grow as more people in the community hear about the opportunity to learn English.

I’ve prayed that the Lord will use this time to help the teachers become more comfortable and confident with the material that they are teaching. Also that the Lord will help us to build a solid foundation for the ministry to grow.

We are planning to continue the ESL classes until the end of May. Then take a break over the summer and start up again in the fall.

Thanks for standing with us through prayer, and your loving support.

In His Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeontheBorder.org